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The BumbleBee Foundation, a pediatric cancer organization, was founded by Heather Donatini and her husband, Jason, who are shown here with a photo of their son, Jarren, who died of a rare form of liver cancer. The foundation will host its Wild West Night at Strathearn Historical Park in Simi Valley. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR

Jason and Heather Donatini, with their children Vincent and Natalia, show photos of Jarren, the son they lost to a rare form of liver cancer. The Donatinis founded the BumbleBee Foundation, a pediatric cancer organization. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR

The BumbleBee Foundation, a pediatric cancer organization, was founded by Heather Donatini and her husband, Jason, who lost a son, Jarren, to a rare form of liver cancer. Here, family members look at photos of Jarren. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR

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The BumbleBee Foundation, a pediatric cancer organization, was founded by Heather Donatini and her husband, Jason, who are shown here with a photo of their son, Jarren, who died of a rare form of liver cancer. The foundation will host its Wild West Night at Strathearn Historical Park in Simi Valley.(Photo: CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR)Buy Photo

When Jarren Donatini was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer before his third birthday, his parents faced the overwhelming costs and emotional stress that come with caring for a child with a devastating disease.

This journey lasted for 18 months for Heather and Jason Donatini. Jarren died on Nov. 1, 2011.

At the time, the Donatinis didn't know many people in the area. They had moved to Thousand Oaks in 2009. But to their surprise, the community rallied behind them, providing emotional and financial support.

“We even had someone pay our rent, which meant my husband didn’t have to worry so much about work and could spend quality time with his family,” Heather Donatini said.

The experience ultimately led to the formation of the BumbleBee Foundation, a nonprofit pediatric cancer organization that helps families pay for such expenses as medical bills, groceries and gas, plus assistance for unpaid time off from work.

“After Jarren passed, we wanted to give back,” Heather Donatini said. “Our goal is to help the families that are knee-deep in the trenches, fighting for their child.”

The Donatinis named the nonprofit after a character in the movie “The Transformers.” Bumblebee is a yellow and black autobot, one of the good guys, and serves as a guardian to Sam, the main character of the movie.

“Jarren loved the movie, and Bumblebee was his favorite,” his mom said. “But he didn’t know Bumblebee was the guardian.”

“They were introducing all the autobots where the guardian was Bumblebee and it was an epiphany,” Heather Donatini recalled. “That’s when we decided what we were going to name the foundation.”

On Saturday, the BumbleBee Foundation will host its sixth annual Wild West Night fundraiser at Strathearn Historical Park in Simi Valley. All proceeds from the event will benefit the foundation’s patient aid program, which directly and financially supports pediatric cancer patients and their families throughout the Conejo Valley and Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

“We hope to raise over $50,000 at this event,” Heather Donatini said. “The funds support our patient aid program, which is our biggest program. It literally provides ongoing support for our families throughout the year, from a gas card to a mortgage payment, and anything in between — whatever families need to lighten the burden.”

This year’s fundraiser will include a dinner catered by Red’s Barbecue, casino tables, lawn games and a cornhole tournament.

Judy Lightbody and her husband, George, will bring the Charityville Jail, where guests pay to have people “locked up” for any reason, and 100 percent of the bail amount will benefit the BumbleBee Foundation.

“If I can support an organization like the BumbleBee Foundation ... with its focus on children and their families, I am glad in my small way to pitch in to help at their fundraiser,” he said.

Among the items being auctioned off are a skateboard signed by Tony Hawk, two tickets to the set of “The Bold and The Beautiful” and a signed script by the entire cast of “Criminal Minds.” All were donated by David Mirisch, a volunteer consultant for the BumbleBee Foundation and a friend of Joseph Mantegna, the star of "Criminal Minds," Hawk and other celebrities.

“In Ventura County, the foundation has helped hundreds of families,” said Mirisch, who lives in Westlake Village. “They help pay for rent when it’s overdue; they give them gas cards and help with medical bills — whatever these families cannot afford.”

Heather Donatini said any donation helps.

“Even just $10 a month makes a big difference because that’s a cup of caffeine for a weary parent, or a new download for a kiddo in a hospital bed," she said. "So if people are not able to come, they can make a difference and be part of our beehive.”